The title of this post was almost to corny to use but ended up being too perfect not to use. The Quintessential Seven, seven films that Quentin Tarantino has put his name on that Tarantino fans must see. Tarantino’s involvement in the film could be anything from director to presenter but here are the seven films that you must see if you are a Quentin fan.

7. Natural Born Killers

“Til you and I die, and die, and die again. ‘Til death do us part”

Involvement: Writer

They say that everybody has a little bit of insanity but Tarantino takes that saying to a whole new level in Natural Born Killers. Staring Woody Harrelson, Juliette Lewis, Tom Sizemore, Rodney Dangerfield, Robert Downey Jr. and Tommy Lee Jones, this film follows a mass murdering couple as they travel across the country killing and avoiding the police. A truly brutal yet brilliant film combining the writing skills of Quentin Tarantino and the directorial skills of Oliver Stone, Natural Born Killers is a must see from any true Quentin Tarantino fan.

6. From Dusk Till Dawn

“Fight now, cry later”

Involvement: Writer, Producer, Actor

This movie is a gory, corny horror film done right. Starring George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino, Harvey Keitel and Salma Hayack, the film chronicles a group of strangers trying to survive a brutal vampire attack. Full of blood, action, fights and insane characters, this movie is pure fun, especially for vampire fans.

5. Jackie Brown

“I’m serious as a heart attack”

Involvement: Director, Writer

Based on Elmore Leonard’s novel Rum Punch, Jackie Brown often gets knocked as the worst of Tarantino’s directed films. While it is the worst of his five (six) films, it should not be knocked. Starring Pam Grier, Robert De Niro, Bridget Fonda, Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Keaton, the film brings Leonard’s twisted plot to life. Both Tarantino and Leonard wild words, complicated plot lines and a unique dark humor like weapons. Combining their talents produced a humorously twisted film.

4. Inglorious Bastards

“You probably heard we ain’t in the prisoner-takin’ business; we in the killin’ Nazi business. And cousin, business is a-boomin'”

Involvement: Director, Writer

After so strongly emphasizing the dark qualities of Jackie Brown, I have to admit the lost only gets darker. If you wish to keep your movie experience light, the rest of this list is not for you. If dark humor and violence are your motif though, please follow me further into the shadows. Rewriting history, Tarantino’s most recent film follows a group of Jewish American soldiers during World War 2 as they exact revenge on every and any Nazi soldier they can find. Tarantino brilliantly directs the film but its true allure comes from the slough of outstanding performances. Brad Pitt stars as the droll leading of the Bastards, leading the soldiers on their killing quest. Diane Kruger and Michael Fassbender also make appearances and their scene together is one of my favorite directed by Tarantino. The films despicably delightful villain, Played by Christoph Waltz, steals the show. Proving that a person can be hilarious and horrifying all in the same breath, Waltz’s performance makes my 15 greatest movie performances list (post to follow in the future).

3. Kill Bill Volume 1 &2

“No Kiddo, at this moment, this is me at my most masochistic”

Involvement: Director, Writer

Before outraged Tarantino fans slander my good name, I know that technically these are two movies. The original intent however, was for these two movies to be one feature length film. Quentin, not wanting to cut scenes, broke it up into two movies post filming. That being said, I consider the two Kill Bills to be one movie on two discs. Another story of revenge, this film was Tarantino’s way of paying tribute to the classic kung fu films of Bruce Lee’s time. Uma Thurman stars as Beatrix Kiddo, AKA the Bride, a retired member of the deadly Viper Assassin Squad. Finding herself pregnant and wanting a life that doesn’t involve killing, she attempts to leave the Deadly Viper’s. Not happy with her choice, the Squad brutally beats her and shoots her in the head but death just doesn’t take. The Bride’s awakening from a coma years later begins her quest to kill all five members of the Dead Viper’s, ending her list with the lead, Bill. Combining western and kung fu style filming with Quentin’s own unique style, Kill Bill features on of Tarantino’s most notorious characters (the Bride) as well as an all star cast including David Carradine, Lucy Liu, Daryl Hannah, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen and a brief cameo from Samuel L. Jackson. Rumors of Volume 3 have been floating around the entertainment world, which would only continue an amazing story.

2. Reservoir Dogs

“Are you going to bark all day little doggy, or are you going to bite?”

Involvement: Director, Writer, Actor

Quentin’s directorial debut and my favorite of his films, Quentin manages to create a movie about a robbery without ever showing the robbery itself. Reservoir Dogs marks the first example of Quentin’s preference to film in a non-linear timeline. Scenes jump back and forth from before the robbery to after the robbery, showing the meticulous planning and spectacular failure in quick succession. The group of men, played by Harvey Keitel, Steve Buscemi, Quentin Tarantino, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen and Eddie Bunker, take on the code names Mr. White, Mr. Pink, Mr. Brown, Mr. Orange, Mr. Blond and Mr. Blue respectively. Tasked with robbing a jewelry store, the cops somehow know their plan and insanity follows. The six men attempt to avoid police and stay alive all while keeping track of the successfully stolen money and dealing with a possible traitor in their midst. As is tradition with Tarantino, the film is full of dark humor, wit, violence and brilliant performances. Though it is not his most classic film, it is my favorite Tarantino, beating out the #1 Quintessential by a fraction of a vote.

1. Pulp Fiction

“The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother’s keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy My brothers. And you will know My name is the Lord when I lay My vengeance upon thee”

Involvement: Director, Writer, Actor

Quentin’s most well know and most notorious film, Pulp Fiction looks at the supremely messed up lives of seven characters and how they intertwine. John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson play Vincent Vega (Mr. Blond’s brother from Reservoir Dogs) and Jules, two men hired to do any number of dirty jobs. Ranging from killing to simply collecting a mysterious briefcase, the contents of which are never revealed, the two men do any job Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames) hires them to do. They attempt to complete three jobs during the course of the movies. The first is to collect a briefcase which eventually gets a man’s head exploded in the back of Jules’ car, more professional help being hired (The Wolf played by Harvey Keitel) and Vincent and jewels inadvertently getting themselves into a diner heist. The second job is to kill boxer Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis) who has double crossed Marsellus gets his own story that eventually crashes together with Vincent’s at the moment of reckoning. The final task is for Vincent to take Marsellus’s wife, Mia Wallace (Uma Thruman) out for a night on the town. A night of dancing takes a turn for the terrible when Vincent finds himself dealing with an overdose. Quentin really plays with the timeline here, killing a character only to have them appear next scene and placing a scene in the beginning of the film that doesn’t seem to fit until the very end. Containing most of his greatest characters and scenes, Pulp Fiction is a must see whether you are a Tarantino fan or not.

There you have it, the seven films you need to see if you are going to call yourself a true Quentin Tarantino fanatic. If you take it upon yourself to make your way through this list and are still craving more Tarantino try watching True Romance, Grindhouse (Specifically the Death Proof section) or just wait until Tarantino’s next film, Django Unchained, is released to the world sometime this year.